Wednesday, September 9, 2015

DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A GUEST IN YOUR OWN HOME ?

Whenever I see news on the European Migrant Crisis – I feel that Europe is a most magnanimous place – and Europeans are the most compassionate people.

No other country would warmly welcome illegal migrants, refugees and asylum seekers as European Nations are doing.

Because of this generosity of European people – refugees prefer to take the hazardous journey by land and sea all the way to Europe– rather than seek temporary refuge in their neighbouring countries.

Normally – displaced persons will take shelter in close proximity in a neighbouring country so that they can return back to their homes once the crisis is over.

But – in the present European Refugee Crisis – refugees from different continents are travelling long distances to reach Western Europe.

The main reason why these refugees are going all the way to Europe (rather than neighbouring countries) is because most of these refugees have no intention of returning back to their own countries once the conflict is over.

For obvious economic reasons – these refugees want to permanently settle down in Europe.

However – it must be remembered that allowing unabated immigration has ramifications – both in the short term – and more so in the long term.

Surprisingly– Europe does not seem to be concerned about the demographic, social, cultural and security ramifications of encouraging illegal immigration owing to which refugees are being attracted towards Europe.

The magnanimous hospitality extended by Europe to illegal immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees me of this famous teaching story I had posted a few years ago in my blog.

DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A GUEST IN YOUR OWN HOME ?

A Fable and Musings on

“Hospitality”

By

VIKRAM KARVE

When I was a small boy – someone told me a fable.

It was an apocryphal teaching story of an Arab and his Camel.

I remember this insightful fable even today.

Whenever I feel overly magnanimous generous and benevolent – I tell myself this story – and I try to apply the “moral of the story” in my life whenever the need arises.

Are you a magnanimous, benevolent and hospitable person?

Then – you too need to read the story of the Arab and his Camel.

THE STORY OF “THE ARAB AND HIS CAMEL”

It was a cold winter night.

An Arab was resting in his tent.

He had tied his Camel outside.

Suddenly his camel peeped inside the tent.

“What is it?” the Arab asked.

“Master – it is very cold outside. Please allow me to put my head inside your tent,” the Camel said.

The kind master took pity on the poor animal – and he agreed to the camel’s request.

A few minutes later – the camel asked if he could put his forelegs inside the tent.

Once again – the compassionate master agreed.

Then – the camel wanted to put his chest inside the tent – to which the master agreed – and taking advantage of his master’s kind nature – the camel kept asking to put his back and then his hump inside the tent.

The Arab agreed to all this.

This went on and on.

The camel asked – and his compassionate master – the kind Arab – agreed to the camel’s requests.

Soon – the entire camel was completely inside the tent.

But now – the tent was too small for both the master and the camel.

They both struggled to remain inside the overcrowded tent.

There was a scuffle – and the much stronger and bigger camel pushed his master out of the tent.

Now the Camel slept comfortably in the warm tent – while his Master shivered outside in the freezing cold.

Yes – the Arab – the Master – was pushed out of his own tent by his Camel.

MORAL OF THE STORY

You should be careful before you extend your hospitality – lest your guests take undue advantage of your magnanimity and generosity.

This fable teaches us lessons at both the macro and micro levels.

MACRO LEVEL MORAL – The Problem of REFUGEES, MIGRANTS and SETTLERS

Let us see a “macro level paradigm” ramification.

Suppose there is a war ravaged or strife torn country – where there is so much violence that the life of citizens is in danger.

As a humanitarian gesture – a benevolent neighbouring country may open its borders to allow refugees to come in and live in safety.

Some other countries may also allow immigration of foreigners as a gesture of goodwill.

In other cases –illegal immigrants may enter another country and settle down there.

The “host” country may be charitable to allow them to stay on – and they may not deport them back to their original country.

Many “magnanimous” countries have such “guests”.

Gradually – the number of these “guests” becomes substantial enough to cause demographic change.

Now – like the “Camel” in the story – the “guests” may soon “throw out” the “host” from his own “tent”.

Even if they don’t evict the “host” out of his own “tent” – these “guests” may make life uncomfortable for the “host” in his own “tent” – just like the Camel did to the benevolent and hospitable Arab during the fable – before finally pushing him out of the tent.

Refugees, asylum seekers and migrants – legal and illegal – may take undue advantage of their host country – and these alien immigrants may start dominating the original inhabitants – and – sometimes – like the camel in the story – these immigrants may even succeed in evicting the original inhabitants from their homeland.

History shows many such examples which have happened all over the world where illegal immigrants have started dominating and imposing their will on the original inhabitants.

MICRO LEVEL MORAL – “Guests” who overstay their welcome

At a micro level – this can happen in your own home.

I have seen so many “guests” who overstay their welcome – and so many guests who take undue advantage of the magnanimity of their “hosts”.

Let me narrate a few apocryphal examples.

THE BENEVOLENT HOUSE OWNER AND THE UNGRATEFUL TENANT

I have seen a case where a benevolent large-hearted person rented out his new locked-up house to a friend who was in dire need of accommodation.

The owner, an army officer, was in a transferable job – and he served all over India – while his friend stayed as a tenant in his house.

Many years later – when the house owner retired from the army – and he wanted to settle in his own house – the ungrateful tenant refused to vacate the house – and the hapless owner had to live on rent in another house.

CUCKOO – STEALING AFFECTIONS – THE MARRIAGE BREAKER “GUEST”

I have heard a story – maybe apocryphal – about a guest stealing the affections of her host’s husband.

A compassionate caring kind-hearted woman invited a cousin sister to live with her in her home in the city – since her newly arrived cousin sister was finding it difficult to find a suitable accommodation in the city where she had found her first job.

The scheming cousin sister responded by seducing and stealing the woman’s husband.

Finally – the wily cousin sister settled down with the woman’s husband – and the hapless kind-hearted woman was turned out of her own house.

Yes – like in the Arab and Camel story – the woman was turned out of her own house (and marriage) by her “guest” – her own cousin sister to whom she had been so magnanimous and hospitable.

LESSON TO BE LEARNT

This fable has a lesson to all of us that you must not be too magnanimous, benevolent and over-generous in extending your hospitality.

Be careful – otherwise there is a danger that you may become a “guest” in your own “home”.

Before you extend your hospitality to anyone – remember the story of the Arab and the Camel.

1. This story is a spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.

2. All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

About Me

A creative person with a zest for
life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated
at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School
Pune, Vikram has published two books:COCKTAILa collection of fiction short stories about relationships
(2011) andAPPETITE FOR A STROLLa
book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel, writing short fiction and compiling his memoirs. An avid
blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories, creative
non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, books, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories, self help and art of living essays in magazines and journals and published a number of professional research papers and reviews and edited in-house magazines and journals for many years, before the advent
of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to
creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse -
his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative
thoughts.